Blagojevich chief of staff pleads guilty in corruption case
CHICAGO — A former chief of staff to ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich pleaded guilty Wednesday to taking part in a scheme to sell or trade President Barack Obama's Senate seat and vowed to testify at the ex-governor's corruption trial.
John Harris, 47, admitted in his signed plea agreement that he repeatedly talked with Blagojevich about how the then-governor could turn his power to name a successor to Obama to his own financial advantage — such as trading it for a high-paying job.
Harris's defense attorney, Terry Ekl, said he expects Blagojevich to go to trial on racketeering conspiracy charges and that his client would testify to outline what he knows about corruption in the administration.
Harris pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel to one count of wire fraud for a November 2008 phone conversation about appointing Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to the seat vacated by Obama's election as president.
In his plea agreement, Harris outlined a scheme under which Blagojevich would get a job as head of a union-sponsored organization, Change to Win, in exchange for giving Jarrett the Senate seat. Officials of the Service Employees International Union were to broker the scheme had it gone forward. It did not.
Jarrett, now a White House adviser, was not mentioned by name in the plea agreement but has been identified in the past as the Senate Candidate B who was to get the seat under the plan. Jarrett eventually took her name out of contention for the seat and has been accused of no wrongdoing in the case.
SEIU officials have also not been accused of any wrongdoing.
After Blagojevich believed that Jarrett was no longer a candidate, he discussed two other possible candidates for the Senate seat, the plea agreement said. In one case, he allegedly told Harris that he wanted to receive the candidate's entire campaign fund in exchange for the Senate appointment.
Comments
- Sources: Josh Powell hires attorney 5:35 p.m.
- Gray dances away with dignity 5:17 p.m.
- Parlor games to enliven parties 5:17 p.m.
- Eco-friendly holiday packaging 5:17 p.m.
- Providing care for aging parents 5:17 p.m.
- Balance omega-6 acids 5:17 p.m.
- Share time, talents with others 5:09 p.m.
- Teaching computer use to seniors 4:41 p.m.
- House GOP won't take no-tax pledge 4:39 p.m.
- Park City School District is nut-free 4:38 p.m.
- Wet spot found in Powell's home
- Sources: Josh Powell hires attorney
- Y. opponent nearly smelled roses
- D-Will treats military families to party
- MWC looks better in basketball
- Maynor amazed by L.A. fans
- Pace happy not to be noticed
- High school football: All-region teams
- Jazz Extra: Starting 5
- Fun, easy gifts for the neighbors
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
178 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
151 - Gay-friendly curriculum phased out
140 - LDS to emphasize helping needy
125 - Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
110 - Unga might enter NFL draft
106 - BYU to wear royal blue uniforms
100 - Disappearance called 'suspicious'
96 - TV mom gives birth to 19th child
95 - Sources: Josh Powell hires attorney
84
First of all, to "20/20," how can you read newspapers and not understand...
Well, I did it. I gave in to the seductions of the ridiculously sexy...
BSU is inferior simply because they play in the WAC. They don't play anybody...
I find it silly to sit here & pass judgement on a man based upon your own...
"If CO2 is a green house gas and keeping in or trapping the radiant heat from...
This is all very suspicious.
Go Utes! That is awesome for your Seniors. I think you should have no problem...
read my lips: NO NEW TAXES OR THROW THEM OUT ! !!! They can deal with...
Korver is more than just a 3 point shooter. If you are playing the Jazz with...
Look to see who is on the floor at the END of the next three games. Tonight...
I think this was such a great program to implement in this community at...
Not the best intro. Please stop with the Max Hall stuff. He said...



You can be the first to comment on this story.